Study Desk

Then David ^(F1)took a count of the people who were with him and ^(C1)appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.

And David sent the people out, ^(C1)a third ^(F1)under the command of Joab, a third ^(F1)under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third ^(F1)under the command of ^(C2)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, "I myself will certainly go out with you also."

But the people said, "^(C1)You should not go out; for if in fact we flee, they will not care about us; and if half of us die, they will not care about us. But ^(F1)you are ^(F2)worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you will be ready to help us from the city."

Then the king said to them, "Whatever seems best to you I will do." So ^(C1)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands.

But the king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake." And ^(C1)all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders regarding Absalom.

Then the people went out to the field against Israel, and the battle took place in ^(C1)the forest of Ephraim.

The people of Israel were ^(F1)defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, twenty thousand men.

For the battle there was spread over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.